I’m sick to death of the April Fool’s dating sim trend. Thankfully, Discord is doing something different

As the news editor of a gaming publication, April 1 may, perhaps, be my least favorite day of the year. Sorting through the flood of utter bs to try and find actual news is no easy task, especially when the USA comes online and the cycle begins anew. But, in my far too many years doing this job, I’ve noticed that, generally, April Fool’s isn’t quite what it used to be. I remember the Valorant dating sim that kickstarted a movement – hell, I interviewed the team that’s making a real one. Then, I remember the Smite dating sim. Then, the vaguely vomit-inducing Palworld one (apparently that’s a real thing now?). It’s a trend that’s grown pretty boring over the years, and one that’s appeared yet again in 2026, with Powerwash Sim picking up the tired mantle. I’m not a dating sim enthusiast by any means, but is this really peak humor on the internet? Is there really no imagination these days? The answer, thanks to Discord, is no.

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